This post is kindly sponsored by Hoseasons.
They say the best places to explore are right on our doorstep. I’ve always known I live in a beautiful part of the UK here in Dorset, but sometimes I take it totally for granted. My boyfriend Benji and I have really enjoyed having a few staycations along the coast this year, and the Isle Of Wight was on our bucket list. We’ve both been as kids, (and I could see it from my bedroom window growing up!), but it’s been a while since we took the ferry over and explored a snippet of what the Island has to offer.
We were kindly invited by Hoseasons to pick from any of their locations to stay at from across the country, and I was so surprised because they have so much choice! You’ll be impressed at the beautiful collection of parks, lodges, boats, cottages and apartments that they offer. Hoseasons accommodates more than 1.75 million holidaymakers and more than 100,000 pets every year! You bet we’ll be returning as soon as we get our own dog one day too.
Hoseasons offer a holiday to suit everyone. From romantic getaways for two to a luxury weekend away for the whole family, you could bring a large group celebrating a special occasion and accommodate everyone comfortably. For this trip, we chose something a bit special. Part of their Tailor-Made Collection and one of 19 stunning locations, Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat is nestled in the forest in an ideal location not far from Cowes. They have contemporary style lodges, quirky beach huts and traditional wooden chalets as part of the collection, so whether you want to watch the sunset on a private deck after a day of shopping in Bath, unwind with the family surrounded by Cornish coastline or like us, dip in a private hot tub in a treehouse, then these hand-picked hideaways are perfect for creating the best holiday experiences and memories.
Travelling to and around the Isle Of Wight
Before I give you a tour of our dreamy lodge and tell you why the Isle Of Wight should be high on your bucket list, I wanted to highlight how easy it is to travel to the island. There are several different ferry companies which offer services for cars, motor homes, bikes and foot passengers. We used Wightlink and took the ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth (around a 40-minute journey). It’s also worth checking Red Funnel and Hovertravel as you can leave from Lymington, Southampton or Portsmouth and arrive in Yarmouth, Cowes or Ryde, whichever suits you. There are several buses and train services, however, we found having our own car the easiest option.
Why the Isle Of Wight?
This beautiful rugged and unspoilt Island is a real gem, with one of the UK’s most diverse and spectacular coastlines. With things to do whatever the season, beautiful sandy shores and plenty of heritage and history, I truly believe there’s something for everyone here. Be sure to watch my vlog below to get a glimpse into a few things we did but it’s worth noting, we hardly scratched the surface. The island has adventure parks, a zoo, museums, English heritage sites, beaches, award-winning restaurants, a famous garlic farm, quaint little villages and a rustic charm like no other. With its mild climate and beautiful landscape, you can enjoy water-sports, walks, cycle rides (and even a chairlift by The Needles!), you’ll leave wanting more of the adventure. It truly feels like you’ve escaped and that’s why it’ll always be a place I return.
We booked for 2 nights arriving late on a Friday evening. The entrance and pathways leading to reception were clearly signposted, lit-up, modern, clean and easy to access. We were given our keys to Firestone and a map to locate our lodge. We had our own private car parking space a short walk around the corner and had no problems with anyone else parking there the whole weekend. If you do have several vehicles, there are plenty of free spaces at reception too.
What an absolute treat this treehouse is. The location was perfectly secluded (but not too far away from civilisation and other guests!) and wonderfully located in the trees within eyesight of the sea. You could hear nothing by birds and waves and that is pretty special. For me, the details gave it that edge. The fact the whole lodge is made of wood including the railings and staircase leading up made it feel so authentic. The hot tub is located at a level below, with an egg chair for reading and relaxing and plenty of outside seating to enjoy my breakfast whilst the sun rose. There are even double french doors that open up so you can truly let that crisp fresh air in. Honestly, it was so dreamy! Inside had absolutely everything you need. They’ve really thought about it and once again, those details give it that luxury edge.
Kitchen
Immediately on the right was our perfect little kitchen featuring a microwave, hob, fridge and even a dishwasher! There were plenty of cups, bowls, plates and cutlery, along with tea and coffee making facilities. They’d even thought about a teapot and water jug should you want them. We had everything we needed in a neat and compact space, even some milk in the fridge. Very impressed.
Open Plan Living
The layout and design of the lodges are so clever, it must have taken a very talented team to create something that is beautifully stylish, functional and spacious. I truly felt at home. We had a small table and chairs (with salt & pepper, coasters and placemats!), a large mirror, a curved smart TV and a wood burner, all set around a feature timber frame double bed. We were provided bathrobes and a few token gifts to welcome us. We didn’t need to use the fire as the central heating made the room a perfect temperature. The bed was really comfortable and we both slept well, the only thing I’d change is fitted sheets instead of flat ones.
Bathroom
This was so beautiful. The kind of bathroom you’d dream for your own home. Featuring two double sinks with brass features, plenty of towel hanging space and hooks for our robes, the bathroom was much bigger than I thought and had a lovely rainfall shower. They also put out plenty of toiletries, enough for each guest to have on each.
Extras
We noticed there was a wardrobe with hangers, a board game, ironing board and plenty of storage if you were staying for a full week. I loved the big desk area to do my makeup and noticed plenty of plugs around the room, including next to both sides of our bed which is often rare when we travel. I liked the little sofa at the end of the bed too, it was nice to use for putting on our shoes and utilising as extra storage to pop our things on. The curtains and blinds were really high quality too, making the room nice and dark for a good nights sleep.
Hot Tub
This was a real selling point for me. We used it both morning and night and loved how it was all set up, well-maintained and ready to be instantly used. The cover was cleverly designed to aid you in lifting it on and off (on a rail-like mechanism you simply pushed), which is the first time I’ve ever experienced a simple touch like that for a hot tub. I read my book in here, did some relaxation/deep breathing and meditation whilst listening to the birds. Bliss.
Grounds & Surrounding Area
We took a stroll past the gates into the woodland walk surrounding the treehouse area. There was a small play park, an easy to access path and viewing points across to Portsmouth. We also took a walk around the rest of Woodside Bay and it was so clean and quiet. The grounds are very well-maintained.
The Bistro Restaurant
On Saturday night, after a leisurely afternoon in the hot tub, we went for dinner at the restaurant located next to reception. It was great quality and great value for money. We paid around £36 for a bottle of wine and two mains, I had the scampi and Benji went for the gammon. The menu was nice and varied, with options to eat inside or out too. We did book in advance via email as advised.
Also available at Woodside Bay…
- Beach within 3 miles
- Spa Lodge with Aromatherapy Associate® treatments
- Multi-function fitness suite
- Outdoor sun terrace
- Wi-Fi access
- Woodland trim trail
- Occasional outdoor entertainment
- Plus, guests are welcome to use disposable BBQ’s on the site, however, it is required to hire a BBQ rack from reception in order to protect the decking & furnishings
Final Thoughts
I’m hoping the photos do justice to just how wonderful the treehouse was. We even had red squirrel friends come right to the door and say hello, it was so lovely. We spent the rest of the weekend exploring Sandown, Shanklin, The Garlic Farm and Godshill and found the location of the lodge to be really convenient. Travelling out of season in early September meant it was a little cheaper and less busy and allowed us to enjoy the tail end of the Summer. We absolutely loved our stay, I’d 100% like to come back one day!
Hoseasons is one of the UK’s leading self-catering accommodation specialists, with more than 31,000 places to stay in coastal and countryside settings throughout Britain and Europe and they have widest available range of self-catering holidays in the UK! If you’d like to book a stay at Hoseasons Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, be sure to click here! Let me know if you’ll be heading there anytime soon! Big thank you to Hoseaons for hosting us, I absolutely love it.
I’m hoping the photos do justice to just how wonderful the treehouse was. We even had red squirrel friends come right to the door and say hello, it was so lovely. We spent the rest of the weekend exploring Sandown, Shanklin, The Garlic Farm and Godshill and found the location of the lodge to be really convenient. Travelling out of season in early September meant it was a little cheaper and less busy and allowed us to enjoy the tail end of the Summer. We absolutely loved our stay, I’d 100% like to come back one day!
Hoseasons is one of the UK’s leading self-catering accommodation specialists, with more than 31,000 places to stay in coastal and countryside settings throughout Britain and Europe and they have widest available range of self-catering holidays in the UK! If you’d like to book a stay at Hoseasons Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, be sure to click here! Let me know if you’ll be heading there anytime soon! Big thank you to Hoseaons for hosting us, I absolutely love it.
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